BMJ  2006;333:1270 (16 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39058.703194.3A

Letters

Use of Google as a diagnostic aid

Bias your search

Although Google can be a valuable aid in reaching diagnoses in rare conditions,¹ the problem faced in a busy, fast-paced clinic can be the abundance of lesser quality material on the web. "Biasing" or directing your search by adding the name of an online clinical knowledge base such as Emedicine can lead you to quality information more quickly; you avoid sifting through dozens of unknown journals, personal webpages, blogs, or discussion forums containing your search terms.

For example, by typing "pigmented lesion+buccal" into Google you will get 55 000 hits with a vast array of very different material. However, typing "pigmented lesion+buccal+emedicine" provides only 106 hits (accessed 12 November 2006), the first being a comprehensive Emedicine review on Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.² You get similar results by adding "BMJ" to the end of your search; in this case the top hit is an ABC of oral health article.³

¹ Holme Tower Marie Curie Centre, Penarth, South Glamorgan CF64 3YR mtaubert@hotmail.com

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Competing interests: None declared.

References

1. Tang H, Ng JHK. Googling for a diagnosis—use of Google as a diagnostic aid: internet based study. BMJ 2006;333:1143-5. (2 December.)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. www.emedicine.com/med/topic1807.htm
3. Scully C, Porter S. The ABC of oral health—Swellings and red, white and pigmented lesions. BMJ 2000;321:225-8.[Free Full Text]

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